Agenda item

This report sets out the Q2 performance outturn for the Service Delivery Plan (SDP) performance indicators for the period 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2019.

Cabinet

RESOLVED – That

(1)  The Council’s Q2 performance against the targets for the Service Delivery Plan (SDP) indicators, as set out in the report and Appendix B, be noted; and

(2)  The Minutes from Overview Select Committee on 28 January 2020 and associated comments and queries, be noted.

            The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Support, Councillor Oppler introduced this item and stated that as mentioned previously in the Corporate Plan report, the service targets were the Service Delivery Plan indicators which sat beneath the corporate priorities to provide more detail about how services were performing. 

            The Group Head of Policy confirmed that there were 23 Service Delivery Plan (SDP) Indicators and that 13 of these were measured at Q2.  The full commentary for each indicator had been set out in Appendix A to the report showing that 9 had been categorised as overachieving their targets with one being categorised as achieving its target.  There were two indicators that were behind target at Q2 and one which had not achieved its target being SPD 18 [Cost of Emergency Accommodation Per Annum (net)].  This indicator was being closely monitored by the Director of Services and it was outlined that the Council was aware of the situation due to the Supplementary Estimate that had been agreed by the Council on 15 January 2020.

            The Group Head of Policy outlined that the Corporate Management Team (CMT) had provided their comments and believed that no remedial action was required at Q2 as most indicators were measured at Q2 were either overachieving or achieving their target at this point in the year.  The two indicators that were behind target were only slightly behind and were largely out of the Council’s control.  An updated position would be provided at Q4.

            In discussing the report, the Cabinet Member for Residential Services, Councillor Mrs Gregory outlined that the additional staff for the housing service as approved by Council on 15 January 2020 would see numbers reduce quite quickly as this would allow staff to deal with families and individuals more quickly and so would hopefully shorten the term of those placed into emergency accommodation.  This was not a situation common to just Arun, as every District in the country was experiencing the same homelessness issues.

            The Cabinet Member for Technical Services, Councillor Stanley, outlined that he wished to highlight some points in relation to SPD Indicators 4 [Occupied Retail Units in Littlehampton] and SPD 5 [Occupied Retail Units in Bognor Regis].  In Bognor Regis he outlined that the work that had been undertaken had been stretched to include the wider Bognor Regis Business Improvement District (BID) area and that the place branding work had been very effective.  A presentation had been made to the last meeting of the Bognor Regis Regeneration Sub-Committee to outline this and in acknowledging that the vacancy rates in Town Centres were at their highest ever.  Councillor Stanley stated that it was important not to underestimate the impact of place branding and the messages going out.  At Littlehampton it was important not to underestimate the impact of public realm and the positives that this would bring.  Good quality public realm work showed that the Council had confidence in its High Streets, and this would attract investment into the area.  The work that was taking place would support vacancy rates.  This was endorsed by the Chairman who stated that he eagerly awaited the start of public realm work in Littlehampton and as this had been supported by a vast majority of the traders in Littlehampton.  He highlighted that the vacancy rates in both Bogor Regis and Littlehampton were a lot lower than most seaside towns in the South East which had upwards of around 30% vacancies.

            The Cabinet

                        RESOLVED – That

(1)   the Council’s Quarter Two Performance against the targets for the Service Delivery Plan (SDP) indicators as set out in this report and Appendix B be noted;

(2)   the minutes from the meeting of the Overview Select Committee held on 28 January 2020 be noted.

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/042/090320, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.